Where does your council tax go?
Your bill isn't one charge — it's stacked from several bodies. Type your postcode to see how your area's Band-D council tax splits between council services (including the ring-fenced adult social care precept), the police and fire authorities, any mayor / Greater London Authority precept, and your parish or community council.
Why it's split this way
Only one part — your council's own services — is set by the authority that sends your bill. The rest are precepts levied by separate bodies (the police & crime commissioner, the fire authority, a combined-authority mayor or the GLA in London, and your parish), which your council collects on their behalf. The whole lot scales with your band: a Band-A home pays 6/9 of these figures, a Band-H home pays double. If your band is wrong, every line is wrong — the free address check tells you.
Follow the thread
Source: gov.uk "Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026-27" (Tables 8a–8f, 9) and gov.wales 2026-27, under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland publishes precepts differently and isn't covered.
The data behind this tool
An average English Band-D bill splits across council services, adult social care, parish precepts and the police/fire/mayoral precepts — the council’s own services are the largest slice.
- Council services: £1,938 (of which adult social care £35).
- Police/fire/mayoral precepts: £391.
- Parish/town precepts: £47.
| Component | Average Band-D |
|---|---|
| Council services | £1,938 |
| — of which adult social care | £35 |
| Parish / town precepts | £47 |
| Police / fire / mayoral precepts | £391 |
| Total | £2,411 |
Source: gov.uk Council Tax levels in England 2026-27 (Open Government Licence v3.0).